equality beginning in turkey where polls opened for parliamentary elections, 56.5 million people are eligible to vote and choosing candidates for 550 available seats in perimeter. let's go to my colleague in south-eastern turkey. for those that don't follow this that cheese -- closely, it's seen by many as the president being able to enhance his powers

essentially, what recep tayyip erdogan, the turkish president wants do is change the constitution. to give him a powerful executive presidency. he will win the elections, but the question is by how much and whether they'll win enough to unilaterally allow them to change the constitution to give the presence in recep tayyip erdogan that they covet. there's a test as to whether the ak party is popular enough to give it enough seats to push the seats through. >> you say by how much it will win, it is crucial. because it's not necessarily the biggest opposition parties that could put a spanner in the works of recep tayyip erdogan's plans. >> yes. the biggest spanner is essentially the kurdish hdp

party. they are popular enough it will keep kurdish troops trying to attract the groups to extend their reach. they need to get more than 10% of the votes. if they do that or get the seats in parliament at least 50 depriving the ak party of the supermajority. it will be difficult for the hdp. they have never got more than 6 or 7% of the vote. if they don't get over 10%, they don't get any representation in parliament, and it will leave the party with the supermajority they want. there's a lot at stake. don't forget just because you are kurdish doesn't mean you'll vote for the adp, the ak party is a popular election-winning machine, and got most of the votes in the last election. the hdp is up against what is the largest most popular party.

no doubt the party will win. what matters is by how much. >> do you know on two particular subjects, one being the kurdish question, and what the entourage plan to do. the other is a turkish economy, that is growing, that seems to have it sloped down considerably. >> well i mean the ak party faces challenges that any incumbent party in any democracy faces. it's been in power for a long time. others are challenging the ideas of the ak party, and the economy is slowing down. these are big changes that succeeded on the back of an economy introduced when the ak party first came to power. there's a challenge for the kurds. again, it's the ak party that has done most to advance the

kutedish peace process. it stalled for a couple of years. the risk is if they don't get representation in parliament a huge percentage of the turkish population, the kurds make up as much as a third of the population, will be denied the representation in parliament, and that could be destabilizing. >> you'll be watching it as will we. bernard smith in south-eastern turkey a british ship launched a mission to rescue another 500 migrants in the mediterranean sea. near 5,000 were detained and taken to southern italy over the weekend. we have more from lampedusa where men are taken. >> some of the migrants rescued travelled on wooden fishing boats, and you usually have

people on dak and below. and more are found on ships, on rubber dinkies 10 meters long and there are 100, 120, 130 people up there. certainly in dire conditions. according to the coast guards, some of the boats use a satellite phone to call a coordination number and send a discretion call. others were found floating around aimlessly in quite a dire situation. now, about 109 of these migrants were brought here to lampedusa, which is a transit point. the others en route will arrive in the next few hours, and we know about the arrival in a port of palermo. for the italians they use logistical challenges and they have the information of where they are arriving usually later in the day. they have to figure out if there's enough space in the reception center in the ports of

arrival. there has to be a place for migrants that are tired, hungry, sleep deprived and exhausted. somewhere where they can rest for a night or two before being moved to another center leaders of the world's seven richest nations, seven, it's important to do this are arriving in southern germany for a 2-day g7 summit. i.s.i.l., greece's threat crisis and fighting in the ukraine dominates the talks. it is g7. russia has been excluded since annexing crimea. >> we'll go to dominik kane live were the summit in bavaria in a moment. we see the u.s. president obama and the german chancellor angela merkel mingling with the crowd, and the u.s. president saying he didn't wring his laden hosen

with him to the great mirth of those assembled. he was going to buy some. at the moment the people there suggesting that the rite place for him to get the leather pants, et cetera et cetera. dominik, with a wonderful backdrof of the bavaria, i don't know castle or building we are talking here about a 2-day meeting, g7. all sorts of different things on the agenda. what did they think they could achieve in that time? >> it is a castle. it's german for castle. and they hope angela merkel is keen to get agreements on a wide range of issues. obviously the crunch points as it were the situation in ukraine, and that is something president obama touched upon in the comments made in the village, and is hoping that

they'll stand up for russian aggression. it issing it that analysts said - one told me told me that he thought the omission of russia from the summit was a serious strategic error. that gives you a sense of perspective about how people here believe without russia involved or the discussion of ukraine, there can be no resolution. that's the feeing among the media, analysts and those talking about the g7 not the g8. >> what about germany's position it's a chance to host off the venue. in the world, in particular in the european union it's at delicate one at the moment. >> that's right. within the next few minutes the presidents of the european counsel, the european

permission. this idea of crease exiting the eurozone. you recall the latest payment was not made and the greece government decided to batch five payments to be maid at the end of the month. there's no sign it will happen if it doesn't, it will plunge the eurozone into crisis. that is why that situation, and germany's role will be at the fore forefront of the gwenda here. -- the agenda here. we know mr president obama will hold a bilateral meeting with the prime minister of iraq giving you a sense of importance of those trying to solve the world flashpoints dominique kane with what

looks like a postcard behind you, but we know it's reel. out of bavaria israeli jets carried an air strike on gaza striking terror of the infrastructure. it was said to be in response for a rocket attack. it was carried out on the palestinian city. >> there's a third attack in three weeks. >> they also control parts of a road linking aleppo to syria's mediterranean coast this is an army that has taken over a number of villages after fighting with regime force, and are moving closer to the key port of latakia. the assaults began with a barrage of firing by heavy weapons, artillery and tanks.

>> this map shows why it is so important. the syrian regime has lost control over parts of aleppo, and now rebels control the motor way linking idlib with latakia. it is the ancestral home of the bashar al-assad family and their allo wight september. the latest rebels games consolidates their power in idlib. the capital fell in march. the syrian regime lost control of another key city last month. meanwhile, rebel groups, regime forces and i.s.i.l. fight each other in neighbouring aleppo. the province is divided. the syrian regime is on the back foot here. it will not give up the coastal province of latakia without a fight. the survival of the bashar

al-assad regime and the allowite sect to which he belongs is at stake stay with us violence ahead of the mexican elections a religious festival in the south of pakistan.

now, the top stories on al jazeera. the polls opened in turkey parliamentary elections there, and almost 56.5 million are eligible to vote. they are choosing candidates for 550 seats in parliament. a british ship launched a

mission to rescue 500 migrants stranded in the mediterranean sea, after 15 rescue missions by a multilateral force on saturday alone, 3,500 were taken to southern italy leaders of the world's seven richest nation are gathering in the south of germany for a 2-day g7 summit. the growing threat of i.s.i.l. greece's debt and the flare up of fighting in ukraine dominates the talks. >> back to turkey where voters are casting ballots to decide how much kurdish representation there'll be in parliament. we go to a polling station in ankara. >> reporter: the elections are significant for a number of reasons. not least because for the first time kurds will contest the elections under the party, something that has never happened before. there's a number of issues on voters minds, like the

constitution the economy that asked the voter what is the main topic. >> for me what matter at the moment is the balance in turkish politics. i don't want any party to dominate. just the balance to be established in the short term in the medium. >> so a democratic perspective there from a voter. that's on his mind. let's ask this other gentleman why he is voting. >> i vote for democrats and peace, basically. that's the main reason i'm here. >> a sense of stability, maybe, that some turks are looking for another ruling. the ak party competing for parliament without recep tayyip erdogan, and are hoping that their policies will be enough to lure voters as did the parliamentary or personae of recep tayyip erdogan. about the the kurdish issue, economic issues and democratic ones are playing a large part in deciding people's minds when they come to cross the ballots,

we expect a high turn out. turkey has a strong tradition of high voter turn out. >> that was a correspondent in turkey. a great deal more on the website - articles, opinion piece, and the latest news. aljazeera.com. that's aljazeera.com. >> there has been violent anti-government demonstrations in mexico ahead of tied term elections -- midterm elections, there were fights between riot police and demonstrators. the government put about 40,000 federal police soldiers and marr means in the south. the midterms will provide a test on what people thing of the president's rule. enrique pena nieto came to power in 2012, promising economic

development. there is a lot of state for mexico's president. president peno nieto won office promising to reform mexico and usher in the age of prosperity and security. so far people have not seen either. poverty is deep rooted. massacres involving security and corruption scandals made pena nieto the most unpopulated president in 20 years. >> this is the first time independent candidates could run. results could show traditional parties have lost control. >> if the electorate sends a message it would do wonders for the economy. >> mexico has success stories.

rich and industrial northerly states, business is good. plants pump out product for export, main to the united states. >> reporter: this has been one of the main economic engines in mexico. business leaders here say the county never met its full potential. it's hoped that consensus can be reached after this election and push the economy forward. this factory owner says reforms are not just enough. >> we need to make sure big structure reforms become value. and we need to make sure we implement them, and create value out of the reforms. it's not enough to just change the law. but how has the law been implemented. >> it points to the ruling p.r. i party and allies winning the most seats in congress.

still, if the independent group beats the candidate for governing, it could lead to a weakening of the president's election. these elections will not decide whether pena nieto stays or falls, but will give pointers in what we can expect for the second half of the term. >> in campaigning his predictively not been without violence. several candidates across the country have been killed. dozens attacked, and there's a movement led by ballot burning teachers calling for a boycott of elections, if the government is unable to hold the election in parts of the country it will be seen as a failure, a failure that peno nieto and his party can do without in china they are mourning the victims of a ferry that capsized last week. these are the rescuers pausing to remember those that died when the eastern star tipped over on the yangtze river on monday.

431 people are confirmed to have died. key opposition leader in the central african county is calling on the president to disarm government linked militia allowing the media to operate. unrest begins in april. the president saying he panted to go for a third term in office. parliamentary elections have been delayed in the capital. our correspond haru mutasa. >> he doesn't want to be recognised. afraid he could be targeted. he protested against the president. >> people are scared. you don't know if you'll be arrested shot tore killed. >> despite the fear of some. other opposition members are working in the open and will do it in volatile areas. and do it for a third term. >> other parts of the capital

are calm. burundi has been peaceful since the civil war ended 10 years ago. this situation is not like a civil war where ethnicity plays a huge role in the violence. now the crisis is prolifical. some think that means it can be resolved through dialogue and it's not too late for burundi. the former president is part of a team trying to get the opposition and government an opportunity to talk. he was there in 2005. and believes in there's peace pierre nkurunziza must step aside much. >> let's hope the international community, and the demonstration audience will make on him enough pressure so that he will be obliged to stop. let's mope that if this is not done and if we don't accept i

can assure you that - no i'm afraid that we assist burundi to another war. between compact peoples. opposition members say they are being targeted by militia by the ruling party. the ruling party says it is not true. >> there are so many case of those attacked by some members of war, of the opposition. elections scheduled for this month had been postponed. despite a crackdown, and several arrests, those say they'll be on the street until he goes. this could be a long standoff south korea says it will be tracking the mobile phones of hundreds of people under quarantine to stop the spread of

middle east respiratory syndrome, m.e.r.s. kinder gardens and elementary schools will be closed in seoul from monday. so far five have died 14 new cases reported since may. the total numbers infected are 64 there's a manhunt for fro conflicts that escaped a maximum security gaol in new york. they used power tools to cut through the wall of their sell at clinton correctional facility. both are said to be dangerous. the united states marine corp is putting women to the test all branches of the military under orders to open up units restricted to men by the end of this year. al jazeera's kristen saloomey went to one training center to see what is a gender experiment in action. >> it's a long way to the top.

it is part of the work for this marine. part of the integrated task force, an experiment in gender. 600 marines, male and female trained side by side never open to women. she admits it has not been easy. >> the hardest part when we arrived, showing up to a unit full of males that never seen a marine that is female. that is a struggle . >> then there's the heavy gear. we had over 100 pounds. carrying the body weight every other day. for close to five miles. we are here carrying 75 pounds every other day for a total of six days your body doesn't get a chance to recover. >> for eight months the marines are training in a gruelling environment. the desert, the ocean and the mountains.

breathing can be hard in these altitudes. it's a basic task, it's more difficult. on every march heart monitors record data. after marines are asked to record how they are feeling. the information collected will be used to select gender neutral standards. to qualify for jobs like machine-gunner and tank crewmen. >> we found looking through niece that all the marines are capable of performing the task. we are trying to ascertain to what level. what level are they capable of performing a task. we see what type of person thrives in this environment. and what do they look like from a physical stand point. what is their height, their weight, their lean body mass. harder to measure is the impact of women on what the military refers to as unit cohesion. in this group they have urged a grudging report. >> when the going gets tough, someone over the shoulder may be smaller. oo little short esh and they are repush and it makes me

thing what am i doing here, and i push on. results of testing may be presented to the commandante of the marines. the women say they'll push to prove that they are not only willing, but able to serve. about 1 million pilgrims are attending a religious festival in the south of pakistan, braving a heatwave that killed 15 of the pilgrims. there's the threat of violence from groups opposed to the shrine. al jazeera spoke to one pilgrim. and asked them to explain the journey in their own words. >> i have been coming here for the past 20 years for a spiritual inspiration. the people who are coming here

should reframe from drugs and restrict to prayers and follow the teaching of the houthi. i visit others like this in peshawar and other important chileans but i have not found a true and real essence in the devotees who visit these places. i never beg or ask anyone for anything. because we never beg. he finds all his needs are taken care of because allah is the real provider. women are not allowed to visit. these did not have female visitors. anyone that can control the temptations is closer. those who come here with a spurp take away presence from here.

those that come go back. though will fail and not succeed unless they come here. keep up to date on aljazeera.com, that's aljazeera.com. >> wildlife poaching is big business... worth more than 17 billion dollars a year and growing.